A lacy (or not so lacy) scarf or cowl with several options, constructed in panels worked in opposite directions, modularly with no picked up stitches!

This was originally a mystery knit-a-long released through twitter, one row posted each day late April - early July 2012. Follow @leethalMKAL or @leethal on twitter if you like the idea and want to know about future knit-a-longs!

Orthogonal is a flexible cowl or scarf with a few different options you can plug in for the stitch patterns. The piece is worked in modular panels which are knit in opposite directions, using short rows to connect them.

You can make the whole thing in intricate lace designs, with the lace patterns switching directions in each panel, or you can work simple all-over lace trellis or linen stitch and seed stitch patterns to make for a more relaxing knitting experience. Or mix and match - the complex lace panels interspersed with either the trellis or the squishy non-lace.

In the simple patterns, some striping is recommended to show off the directional switches in the pattern - the stripes in adjacent panels will be perpendicular, or orthogonal!

This pattern is for any weight yarn around worsted or heavier; the piece’s width is determined by your gauge. It will be 29 stitches wide, in whatever gauge you’re working with, and may or may not be stretched wider when blocked.

A yarn with good stitch definition is recommended if using the lace patterns, and some striping (or self-striping yarn) is recommended in the simple panels. This could be striping between 2 or more yarns the whole time, or it could be just throwing in 1 stripe at some point within the panel.

The piece can be as long as you want - anything from a small cowl to a long scarf - and you can leave it a normal scarf, or sew the ends together to make a loop.

Many thanks to Star Athena for helping me model the cowl!